Bread & Butter: A new Ping's and Smashburger set to open

Paul Chen worked nine years as a server at Ping's Mandarin Restaurant in San Rafael before purchasing it from the retiring owner, Ping Teo, and making it his own nine years ago. Now Chen is expanding to open Ping's Chinese Cuisine in the space that Mikado Sushi formerly occupied in San Rafael's Northgate One shopping center.

Chen wanted to expand earlier, but the economy got in the way.

"Now is the time," says Chen, who, with a twinkle in his eye, suggests it may not be his last expansion in Marin. Ping's Chinese Cuisine offers many of the other restaurant's beloved dishes as well as new items, including salmon spinach rolls ($8.50), honey pecan prawns ($13), crispy duck ($14) and Peking beef ($7.50).

With an opening set for the end of February, Ping's Chinese Cuisine will be open daily for lunch and dinner. Ping's Chinese Cuisine is at 248 Northgate One in San Rafael. Call 492-8808 or go to www.pings mandarinrestaurant.com.

Get smashed

Denver-based Smashburger is opening its first location in the Bay Area in Novato in spring. Smashburger is known for its technique of taking fresh 100 percent Angus beef, forming soft balls with it, and "smashing" the beef after it is placed on the grill so that the juices rise up, making what the company says is a juicier burger.

And Marin will have its own specialized burger.

"We specialize in making a special menu for each region, looking at the food trends and cultural history in that market and naming a burger that is only sold there," says Smashburger spokesperson Stacie Lange. "We have not determined the name of the special burger for the San Francisco area yet."

Smashburger also researches the local craft beer scene and selects one that is sold in each area.

Smashburger will be at 7370 Redwood Blvd. in Novato. Go to www.smashburger.com for more information.

Open and closed

That big line outside Sol Food in Mill Valley on Feb. 11 could only mean one thing — yep, the restaurant's official first lunch after a soft opening last week. Sol Food is at 401 Miller Ave. in Mill Valley. Hours are 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily. Call 380-1986 or go to www.solfoodrestaurant.com.

With the death of the co-owner and chef of San Anselmo's Orchid Thai, Jeiranan "Tommy" Thongnopneua last month, the restaurant has closed, and plans for the space are yet to be determined. Also in San Anselmo, Lanna Thai closed, and Auryn Thai opened Feb. 5 in a quick turnaround. Auryn Thai is emphasizing traditional Thai cuisine. Auryn Thai is at 810 Sir Francis Drake Blvd. in San Anselmo. Call 455-8300.

Marin's two Bills — Bill Higgins and Bill Upson of Real Restaurants — are closing their San Francisco institution, Fog City Diner, and partnering with another Marinite, Bruce Hill (Picco, Zero Zero and Bix), to re-create it as Fog City, according to Inside Scoop SF.

It will close March 15 and reopen sometime this summer — in time, they hope, for the America's Cup. Fog City Diner is at 1300 Battery St. at Embarcadero in San Francisco. Call 982-2000.

Sweet idea

What heart-connection do Sausalito's Mourad Lahlou (Aziza in San Francisco), Niscasio's Michael Mina (Michael Mina in San Francisco) and Roland Passot (Left Bank Larkspur, La Folie in San Francisco) have in common besides Marin? The Constellation Chocolate Collection, for which the Michelin-rated chefs have provided a special chocolate along with other Bay Area notable chefs to benefit Share Our Strength. All profits from each 28-piece limited-edition box ($100) will be donated to help end child hunger in America. Go to www.ifonly.com for ordering information.

Popping the question is offering special sweets through Feb. 14. Choose one or choose all from a "Susie's Cupid Cake," a heart-shaped, four-layer red velvet cake customized and tailored for two ($36);

Want to propose on Valentine's Day? Here's a sweet idea from Greenbrae's SusieCakes. The Perfect Proposal lets you create your own cupcake or cake into which your ring can be baked ($3 cupcake, cakes from $330).

Other goodies for Valentine's Day include Makin' Whoopie pies ($5) and Cupid Cake, a heart-shaped, four-layer red velvet cake customized and tailored for two ($36). SusieCakes is at 310 Bon Air Center in Greenbrae. Call 461-2253 or go to www.susiecakes.com.

Anna Haight is a longtime Marin resident and an even longer foodie who blogs at Anna's Cool Finds, www.annas coolfinds.com. Her bread and butter column appears Wednesdays. Have news about chefs, restaurants and other foodie goodies? Contact her at annahaight@gmail.com or on Twitter at http://twitter.com/annahaight.